Children's Home run by Darlington Borough Council in Darlington

Unique reference number SC037861 Inspection date 15/02/2011 Inspector Deborah White Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 07/07/2010 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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You can obtain copies of The Children Act 2004, Every Child Matters and The National Minimum Standards for Children’s Services from: The Stationery Office (TSO) PO Box 29, St Crispins, Duke Street, Norwich, NR3 1GN. Tel: 0870 600 5522. Online ordering: www.tso.co.uk/bookshop

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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About this inspection

This report details the main strengths and any areas for improvement identified during the inspection. The judgements included in the report are made in relation to the outcomes for children set out in the Children Act 2004 and the relevant National Minimum Standards for the service.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough

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Brief description of the service

This children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to three children of either sex, aged 12 years to 17 years.

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Brief description of the service

The house has two floors. The ground floor comprises of a kitchen, a living room with television and toilet facilities. Upstairs there are bedrooms for children, a staff office and a bathroom. There is a large garden at the back of the house complete with outdoor furniture and decking.

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Brief description of the service

Three children currently live in this home of whom one was present during the inspection.

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Summary

The overall quality rating is satisfactory.

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Summary

This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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Summary

The purpose of this unannounced interim inspection was to look at the action and recommendations from the last inspection and all the key national minimum standards in the outcome area staying safe.

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Summary

Following this inspection outcomes for staying safe has changed from satisfactory to good.

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Summary

Outcomes for being healthy; enjoying and achieving; positive contribution; economic well-being and organisation will be looked at during the next full inspection.

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Summary

The home have met the action and all the recommendations from the last inspection to improve outcomes for children. Staff moral is very good and children are cared for by a motivated, committed team. The home provides a comfortable homely place for children to live, that is spotlessly clean and tidy.

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Summary

The home is good at keeping children safe. Staff are aware of the home's procedures and work with each child to help them recognise and understand their own risk taking behaviour. Children's records are very good and give a clear detailed account of safeguarding concerns and what actions have been taken to protect children.

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Summary

There are no actions or recommendations arising from this visit.

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Improvements since the last inspection

An action, and recommendation, raised at the last inspection to improve fire safety is met. A thorough fire safety risk assessment has been carried out and the actions, identified in the risk assessment, have been addressed.

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Improvements since the last inspection

A recommendation to ensure children are consulted about new admissions to the home is met. Any proposed changes are talked about in children's meetings and if children wish to discuss their thoughts in private; key worker sessions are offered.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Recommendations to show the effectiveness of placements plans, and the outcomes from education reviews are carried out, are met. Children's placement plans are very good. They clearly show children's assessed needs and how these will be met. Weekly written evaluations show placement plans are regularly monitored to ensure children are appropriately placed. Outcomes for educational meetings are recorded in each child's file to ensure all children achieve their full potential. Educational outcomes for children are good.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Recommendations to improve environmental issues are met. The home has a valid insurance certificate and the street where the home is situated is clean, litter free and has had all the street graffiti removed.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's privacy is respected. Each child has their own room, which they can secure, and all toilets and bathrooms have appropriate locks fitted. There is access to a private telephone, in the home, and all children have mobile telephones that are regularly topped up with credit.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff are sensitive to gender issues and do a lot of work to promote positive social development. Staff run a boys and a girls group to help children understand some of the problems they may encounter as part of growing up. Topics include drug and alcohol awareness and sexual health promotion. Two staff members are undertaking specific training so they can extend the remit of the groups to better inform children and other staff members.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children know how to complain and complaints are taken seriously. Complaints are recorded very well and clearly detail the concerns raised and the actions taken in response. The home promotes a zero tolerance to bullying behaviour and children are very well informed about what to do if they feel threatened.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is safeguarded. Staff know what to do if they suspect abuse and they have a good insight into the risks older children often face. Children know what measures staff will take to keep them safe and staying safe strategies are regularly discussed during key worker sessions. Good records of child protection concerns enable the registered person to monitor safeguarding trends in the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children who go missing are protected by robust reporting procedures. Staff inform all the relevant agencies and any concerns about a missing child are shared appropriately. The home have a good relationship with local police to support vulnerable children. The police visit on an informal basis and have built up a good rapport with the children to help them view the police in a positive light.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Behaviour is managed positively and is based on positive relationships. Rewards are used to promote good behaviour and sanctions are only used as a last resort. A child said 'We don't get any sanctions here.' All staff are trained in safe restraint techniques and understand under what circumstances restraint can be used.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's individual risk assessments are robust. Risks are clearly identified and the strategies to minimise risks are known by the children and staff. Regular reviews ensure identified risks are current and relevant.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Careful monitoring of visitors prevents children being exposed to potential abusers. Unknown visitors have their identification checked and verified. A visitors book is signed by every visitor to allow the registered person to monitor who is coming into the home and why.

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